Fluid brake



April 30, 1957 Filed July l, 1955 E. J. cRANKsHAw 2,790,519

FLUID BRAKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 asx mdW/h l Gan/nia# A TTOR/VEVS.

April 30, 1957 E. J. CRANKSH'AW 2,7905519 FLUID BRAKE Filed July 1, 1955 s sheets-sheet 2 will llllllllll bulli; 4

IN V EN TOR. l

A TTORNE Y April 30, 1957 E. J. CRANKSHAW FLUID BRAKE Filed July l, 1955 l. 6c zug. 5. *i

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3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent .FLUIUBRAKE Edwin JfCrankshaw, Ellinwood, Kans.

Application Julyl, 1955, Serial No. 519,395

Claims. .(Cl. 51881-590) This invention relates 4to fluid brakes, and more particularly to a-novelbrake orretarder and Ycontrols therelfor `adapted `to1be used `on vehicles in `addition to the `usual wheel brakes'to retard the speed or Aprovidebrakzing action vdown long grades and in other instances `of necessary slowing of vehicles to reduce .strain and wear on the usual-wheel brakes.

-The objects of the presentiinvention are to provide an vimproved brake structure which include, a stator mount- -ed on a vehicle and enclosing a rotor connected to the -vehicle drive shaft, and liquidflow controls for .regulating retarding force applied to the rotor; to provide such abrake witha vane type rotor and uid actuated ,mem-

bersoperative for selectively retainingvanesin retracted Y position; to provide a Vfluid pressuresupply actuated Aby the shaft connected -to the `rotor and automatically controiled iluid flow for suitable vehicle retardation ,of forwardor reverse movement; to providejsuch a brake 'with pressure responsive lay-passes for limiting `braking force applied to the rotor; to provide vrotor Vvane controllers forfholding the vanes in position for minimum lluid friction when the braking apparatus is not used` for retarding speed, and to provide a compact, durable, eficient iiuid brake structure that is economical to install 4andis positive in operation.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the present linvention, I have provided improved jdetaiisof structure,

the preferred forms o f which are` illustrated' in 'the ac-V v.the vstator .and rotor taken on `the lines 4 4, Fig. 2,

with the* vanes and `flow `valve 'in speed-retarding posinon.

Fig. 5 isa-transverse sectional view through fluid pres-V sure supplypump and drive therefor taken on the line -5-5, Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 'is a sectional view -through'the fluid pressure `supply -pump'and ow direction control valve therefor.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

il designates a vehicle having a Wheel-supported frame v2 and carrying a c ab 3 and hood 4 enclosingthe'usual engine (not shown). The brake mechanism 5 ;i s suitably suspended `from the frame 2 Abetween the cab 3 and'therear Adrive wheels (not shown). A drive shaft -6 connects the engine through the usual change speed transmission to the front end of the brake 5 and a drive shaft 7 connects the rear end of the 'brake Yto the rear ive wheels through the usual differential and vdrive axle mechanism' (not Shown).

Patented Apr. 30, 1957 Thebrake 5 includes a rotorshaftf having its ends .connected to thed` ri ve shafts -'6 and 7by suitable .uni-

'The casing` 12 include s end walls A13 and 14 andrsubstan- .tiaily kcylindrical spaced Vconcentric inner and outer walls `15 and 116 to 'denea space 17 therebetween D forcentaining cooling liquid Yas later'des'cribed. For convenience of manufacturer, it vis preferablethat fthe .casing he split intermediate the length thereof .as at f18 and the adjacent faces of thef inner 2and vouter wall portions be provided with registering grooves 20 and l, O frings '21 or other suitable seal members arranged .therein and the twoportions of the split casing drawn together by suitable'fastening devices such vas bolts 22'having kvShanks 23 extending `through .apeltures .124 vof vthickenedportions 2 5 of the inner ywall \1'5,1t he apertures 524being spaced outwardly relative to the groove 26 `and seal ring -21 therein l A cylindrical rotorhousing y26 is arranged inside of theicasing Aeccentrically ofthe,inner Wall l5.' Therotor housing [26 yis preferably of a metal having long-wearing characteristics andhas apolished bore 27. 'lhreehnds fof `the cylindrical housing 2.6 extends into ygrooves 28 in each ofthe `en d 'walls 13 and 14, and portions 29 andl are Vintegral with and extend inwardly from the inner wall 15 to engage the rotor housing to provide dmetr'ieallv Opposite .suupeftins engagement vfor Said 'rotor housing. The Vportion 2% is at the side o ffthe rotor .housing having .thegreatest lspacing from the i-n- .ner Wall .1 5jand .tightly engnges v`said rotor housing lto provide 'apseparating .member cooperating with the tinner `wall V15 and rotor housing 216 'to define uid chambers .3l 'and ,3,2 Qn ,Opposite sides Yet the portion ,2S which communicate .throughfelongated slotsor other suitable ports 33 and j34res`pectively in the rotor housing to the bore 27 ofsaidhousing. xThe portion 29 has a .longitudinal bore 135 ,extending therethrough st ibstantially parallel to the axis of the bore in the .rotor housing 26,

40 and a valvefmember 3 6 fis rotatably mounted in said bore A35. The endof'thebore 35 opening 'through the end wall '1 3 ,is suitably closed by `a plug37, the vinnerend of whichjengages the valve member 36. The other .6nd of the bore has aplug 38 sealingly secured therein with a seal member I39 engaging 'a valve operating disc 40 :fastened by -a key 41 to the Yvalve member A36 vand con- ;nected 'to a'shaft 42 that 'extends through a bore 43 in the plug.

nThe lvalve 36 has flow passages 44 extending trans- 'yersely therethrough AVintermediate its Iends,`and of Asuitable size whereby when rotated by the shaft 42 to a npositionas show nin Fig. 3 the passage is in communication with ports -45 and 46 tproviding for flow between the v'iluid `chambers 31 and32, and when 4the shaft 42 is rotated the passages 44' are arranged as illustrated "i'Fig 4 Vwhereby the walls of the valveimember 36 preventfany VHuid Iow between the fluid chambers 31 and 3`2.

n The end Walls 13 and -14 have aligned bores 47 arranged eccentrically relative to the rotor housing 26 and 'bearing members 8 are suitably mounted in said bores land 'adapted t o support the rotor 11 in the rotor housing. i'

The lrotor -11 preferably includes a ring member 50 i and end members :51, `said endmernbers having hubs 52 -on which the bearings 48VA are sleeved to rotatably inount The hubs 52 have bores 53 v .through Whichgthe rotor-shaft 8 extends, said hubs being :the `rotor in said bearings.

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grooves 58 in they inner surface of the ring member 50 for receiving spaced pairs of blade guides 59, the end members 51, ring member 50 and blade guides 59 all being held in assembled relation by suitable fastening devices 60. The blade guides 59 are preferably spaced parallel plates with the spacing therebetween registering with slots 61 in the ring member 50 which are of suitable the rotor housing 26. The blade guides are spaced from the shaft 8 whereby there is communication of the space between the blade guides of Veach pair with the interior of the rotor.

The bearings 48, rotor assembly 11 and shaft Sare all arranged whereby the ring member 50 contacts the rotor housing 26 at the side thereof adjacent the portion 29 of the casing as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 whereby when the blades are extended as illustrated in Fig. 4 and the valve ports 44 register with the ports 45 and 46, rotation of the rotor will move liquid from one to the other of the Huid chambers 31 and 32. Suitable seal members 64 are arranged between the rotor end members 51 and the casing to reduce leakage of liquid from the rotor housing through the bearings 48. End closures 65 and 66 are provided with bores 67 whereby they are sleeved on the shaft 8 and are suitably secured by fastening devices 68 to the end walls 13 and 14 respectively and have engagement with the bearing members 48 to aid in retaining same in place. Suitable seal members 69 are arranged inside of the closures 65 and 66 adjacent the bore 67 thereof and engage the shaft 8 to aid in retaining liquid in the casing. A second closure 70 is preferably mounted on the outer end of the end closure 65 to enclose an oil slinger ring 71 and a felt seal ring 72 to further provide a uid seal for the respective end of the brake apparatus. A plug 73 closes an oil drain in the closure 70.

The blades 62 are normally held in depressed or retracted position by blade lock mechanism 74 which is actuated by fluid pressure supplied by a pump mechanism 75 driven from the shaft 8 as later described. The actuators 74 include pistons 76 slidably mounted in cylinders 77 xed on one of the end members 51 of the rotor 11 on opposite sides of the blade guides 59 with the ends of the cylinder adjacent the respective end'member of the rotor communicating through passages 78 extending to the exterior of the rotor adjacent said end member. The ends of the pistons 76 extending from the cylinders 77 for each vane are connected by a piu 79 that extends through elongate slots 80 in the `respective pair of blade guides 59 and also through an L-shaped slot 81 in the respective blade. The L-shaped slots 81 are arranged to extend kfrom the inner endsof the blades substantially in alignment with the position of the respective pins 79 when the pistons are retracted and terminate in angularly positioned portions of the slots that align with the slots 80 when the blades are in retracted position as illustrated in Fig. 3. Rollers 82 are mounted on the pins 79 and substantially rotatably engage the sides of the slots 80 and 81.

Fluid pressure for actuating the pistons 77 is supplied from the pump 75 through a duct 83 which communicates through a port 84 with an annular space 85 between the end wall 14 and the adjacent end member'51 whereby the fluid pressure is appliedthrough the passages 78 to the interior of the cylinders V77 tending to force the pis- 4 86 which communicates with the interior of the casing through a port 87 in the end wall 13 and through an annular groove 88 in said end wall and ports 89 through the adjacent end member 51 to the interior of the rotor to apply iluid pressure to the ends of the pistons extending from the cylinders 77, and also applying fluid pressure Ythrough the space between the blade guides 59 and shaft 8 to the inner ends of the blades 62 tending to force same outwardly against the rotor housing 26.

In order to apply fluid pressure to the interior of the rotor, and circulate cooling water through the casing, suitable pumps are preferably driven from the shaft 8. In the particular structure, a gear housing 90 is secured to the closure member 66 and encloses a suitable gear 91 fixed on the shaft 8 and drivingly engaging the gear 92 fixed on a shaft 93 and supported in suitable bearings 94. One end 95 of the shaft 93 is drivingly connected to a rotor 96 of a pump 97 for pumping cooling liquid such as water from a tank 98 to the pump and then through a duct 99 to the space or cooling jacket 17 and then through a duct 100 back to the tank 98. The other end of the shaft 93 is drivingly connected to a suitable pump 101 which is illustrated as a vane type pump having a valve assembly 102 arranged whereby regardless of the direction of rotation of the shaft 8, the ow of liquid to and from the pump will be in the same directions. The valve structure includes a floating piston 103 slidably mounted in a sleeve 104 and provided with an intermediate portion 105 of reduced diameter. Arranged at the ends of the sleeves are plugs 106 provided with stop members 107 to limit the travel of the floating piston. A duct 108 leading from a liquid supply tank 109 communicates with a port 110 in the central portion of the sleeve, and spaced ports 111 and 112 arranged diametrically opposite the port 110 whereby when the shaft 93 turns in a counterclockwise direction, Fig. 6, the pis- Y ton 103 will move to the position shown in Fig. 6 whereby liquid will flow through the port 110 and port 112 into the pump casing at one side of the pump and will be discharged from said pump through a port 113 at the end of the sleeve 104 to maintain pressure on the piston and also will ow through the port 114 to a duct 115 leading to a control valve assembly 116. When the direction of rotation ofthe shaft 93 is reversed, discharge pressure will be built up on the opposite side of the rotor and flow through a port 117 at the end of the sleeve 104 to force the piston 103 to the opposite end of its stroke whereby liquid will'be drawn through the port 110 and port 111 into the pump chamber and he discharged through a port 118 and duct 115 to the control valve assembly 116. The direction of ow of liquid will always be in the same direction through the duct 115.

The valve assembly 116 may be of any suitable type. In the illustrated structure, it is of the sliding piston type wherein the piston 119 is slidably mounted in a housing 120 with a spring 121 normally maintaining the valve in the position shown, Fig. 2, whereby flow of liquid from the pump 95 will enter the valve casing through the duct 115 and pass through the ports and be supplied to the duct 83 for actuating the piston 76 to hold the blades 62 in retracted position. Any leakage from the cylinder 77 will pass through the interior of the rotor and move through the duct 86 to the valve and be delivered through a duct 122 to the tank 109.

When it is desired to retard the speed of a vehicle, a

'suitable control lever 123 is operated and through its connection 124 to the piston 119 will move the piston to the right in Fig. 2 whereby fluid pressure from the Vduct will iiowthrough the valve and duct 86 into the rotor to apply pressure to the exposed ends of the pistons 76. At the same time, liquid from the duct 83 which communicates with interior of the cylinder 77 will flow into the interior of the valve housing through a Vport 125 into the interior of the piston and then .through the duct 122 to the tank 109. As soon as the valve 116 is operated to release the vanes or blades 62, the rotation of the rotor and blades therein will cause-uidfto be moved aroundthe interior of the casing, flowing through the ports 4S, passage 44 and ports 46. Then aI control 126 suitablyconnected to the shaft 42 is operated to rotate the valve 36 to the positionshown in Fig. 4 stopping the flow therethrough, building up pressure in the uid charnber 31 or 32 on the discharge side of the rotor housing, depending upon direction of rotation ofthe shaft 8, thereby applying retarding force to the rotor. In orderto avoid excessive pressure being accumulated in either of the uid chambers and causing Vwheels,A to slide or damage to the equipment, by-passes 127 and 123 are arranged in communication with the fluid chambers with pressure relief valves therein to limit the maximum pressure that can be accumulated in either of theiiuid chambers.

When the vehicle comes to a stop or the speed thereof has been retarded as desired, the control 126 is actuated to move the valve 36 to reestablish circulation of liquid in the interior of the casing, and then the controlA 123 is actuated to move the valve 116 whereby uid pressure from the pump 95 is applied through the valve 116 to the duct S3 and cylinders 77 to apply pressure to the pistons 76 and move the pistons and rollers thereon outwardly from the cylinders whereby when each blade 62 is moved by the rotor adjacent the portion 29 in the casing, and the blades are then in retracted position, the piston moves the roller 82 into the end portion of the slot 81 to lock the respective blade in retracted position. This is continued until all of the blades are in retracted position and locked. When the bladesV are in retracted position, there is no pump action provided by the rotor, the rotor being free to rotate in the fluid and provide substantially no retarding eiect on the rotation of the shaft 8.

It is believed obvious I have provided a uid brake that may be economically installed in vehicles and efciently operated to retard the speed thereof. when desired, and thereby add materially to the safety in the operation of said Vehicle.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A liquid brake assembly comprising, a housing havingv a cylindrical rotor chamber therein, a shaft journalled in the housing and extending through the rotor chamber eccentrically thereof, a rotor of cylindrical shape fixed on the shaft in the rotor chamber and contacting the peripheral surface at one location therearound, said rotor having a plurality of radially arranged slots spaced therearound and extending to the periphery thereof, said housing having uid chambers in spaced apart relation, a passage communicating the fluid chambers exteriorly-of the rotor chamber, ports communicating one of the uid chambers with the rotor chamber at one side and the other fluid chamber with the rotor chamber at the other side of the location of contact of the rotor with the surface of the rotor chamber, blades slidably mounted in each of the slots in the rotor and cooperating therewith whereby when the rotor is rotated and the blades extended liquid is moved from one uid chamber to the other, means Voperable to close the passage communicating the uid chambers whereby rotation of the rotor when the blades are extended increases pressure in one of the fluid chambers and applies a retarding force to the rotor blades, cylinders extending into the rotor adjacent to and spaced from each of the blades, said cylinders being parallel to the shaft, slots in the blades extending from the inner ends thereof and terminating in a portion parallel to Yand in alignment with the cylinders when the blades are in retracted position, piston means operable in the cylinders and having portions extending into the slots in the blades and adapted to engage the portion of said slots parallel `to the cylinders when the blades are in retracted position. whereby said piston portions are operative to hold the blades in retracted position, and means including valve means communicating a source of fluid pressure with the cylinder to selectively apply fluid pressure to the pistons for movingsame into andlout of -bladefretainingpositiom 2. A liquid brake assembly comprising, a; housing havingY acylindricalrotorchamber therein, la shaft Vjournalled in the housingand extending through therotor chamber eceentrically-thereof, a rotorof cylindrical shape fixed onthe shaft inr` the rotorV chamber yand contacting the peripheral surface at one location therearound, said rotorhaving a pluralityofradially-arranged slots spaced therearound and-extendingto the periphery thereof, sai'd housing having fluid chambers in spacedy apart-relation therein, a passage communicating the fluidl chambersexteriorlyofthe rotorchamber, portsl communicating one of the flu-id-chambers-with-'therotorchamber at one side l and'theother fluidl'chamber` with the rotor`v chamberat the other side of the location of' contact ofthe Vrotor with the surface of the rotor-chamber, blades slidably mounted in each ofthe-slots in the rotor and cooperatingtherewith wherebywhen the rotor is rotated-andthe blades extended liquidismoved from one fluid chamber to the other,` means operableto close the passage communicating the uidY chambers whereby rotation of the rotor when the blades areV extended increases-pressure in one of thefluidchambers and applies a retarding force to the rotorblades, cylinders extending into the rotor adjacent to and spaced from Veach of the blades, said cylinders being parallel to the shaft, slots-in the blades extending fromV the innerends thereof and terminating ina portion parallel to and in alignment with the cylinders when the blades are in retracted position, piston means operablein the cylinders and having portions extending into the slots in theblades and adapted to engage the portion of said slotsA parallel to the cylinders when the` blades are in retlrac,tedV position whereby said piston portions are operative -to hold the blades in retracted position, a source oflluidpressureiincludin'g pumpmeans having a fluid' pressure dischargeland operated in yresponse to'rotation of 'the shaft, ducts communicating the discharge ofthe pump tojthe oppositeV ends of the piston means andIvalve-means operable to selectively apply fluid pressure from the pump discharge to the pistons for moving same into'an-d outof blade retaining position.

3,; A liquid-brakeassemblyeomprising, a casing having i a cylindrical chambertherein, a cylindrical rotor housing eccentrically-of the cylindrical'-l chamber-and engaged with a portion of the `peripheral surface atone location' therearound, a casing portion inthe cylindricalchamber substantially diametrically oppositethe contacting-location of the rotor housing and periphery of the cylindrical chamber forming a partition cooperating with the rotor housing in dening spaced-fluid chambers on opposite sides of the partition, ports in the rotor housing communicating the interiorA thereof with 'the respective lluid'chamb'ers, a passage extending through the partition providing communication between the fluid chambers exteriorly ofthe rotor housing, valve means in the passage operable to v rotor with the inner surfaces of said plates in alignment with the slots inthe rotor, blades slidably mounted inv each of the slots in the rotor between the plates, elongated slots in the'plates substantially parallel with the shaft and spaced therefrom, L-shaped' slots inthe blades extending from the inner ends thereof and terminating in portions alignable with the slots in the plates when the blades are in retracted position, latch *means extending through the` i slots in the plates rand blades, and means operatively 4. A liquid brake assembly comprising, a casing having a cylindrical chamber therein, a cylindrical rotor housing eccentrically of the cylindrical chamber and engaged with a portion of the peripheral surface at one location therel around, a casing portion in the cylindrical chamber substantially diametrically opposite the contacting location ofthe rotor ,housing and periphery of the cylindrical f -chamber forming a partition cooperating with the rotor .housing indetiningspaced uid chambers Von opposite sides of the partition, ports in the rotor housing com- 4municating the interior thereof with the respective fluid Y chambers, a passage extending through the partition providing communication between the fluid chambers exteriorly of the rotor housing, valve means in the passage operable to close same to limit communication between the uid chambers, a shaft journalled in the casing and extending through the rotor housing eccentrically thereof, a hollow rotor of cylindrical shape ixed on the shaft in the rotor housing and contacting the peripheral surface of the interior thereof substantially adjacent the casing portion forming the partition, said rotor having a l plurality of radially arranged slots spaced therearoundA` v and terminating in portions alignable: with the slots in the plates when the blades are in retracted position, abutment means extending through the slots in the plates and blades, piston means in the rotor adjacent each of the plates and operatively connected with the abutment means, cylinders xed in the rotor and slidably receiving the piston means, a source of liquid pressure, means including valve means communicating the source of liquidv pressure with-the cylinders Yin the rotor and the interior of the rotor and operable to selectively apply liquid pres- Y sure to the pistons for moving sameand the abutment means'thereon into and out of blade-retainingrposition,

and pressure regulated by-pass Ymeans providing communication between the uid chambersto limit the pressure accumulated therein.

' 5:.,A liquid brake .assembly comprising, a casing having a cylindrical chamber therein, a cylindrical rotor housing eccentrically of the cylindrical chamber and en-" gaged with a portion of the periphera'lsurface at one location therearound, a casing portion in the cylindrical chamber substantially diametrically opposite the contacting location ofthe rotor housing and periphery of the q cylindrical chamber forming a partition cooperating with Vthe rotor housing in defining spaced tluid chambers on opposite sides of the partition, ports in the rotor hous- 5 :ing Communicating the interior thereof with the respec- ,tive tluid chambers, a passage extending through the partition providing communication between theY uid chambers exteriorly of the rotor housing, valve means Y inrthe passage koperable to close same to limit communil cation between the uid chambers, a shaft journalled in ,the casing and extending through the -rotor housing eccentrica'lly thereof, a hollow rotor of cylindrical shape ,xed on the shaft in the rotor housing and contacting the peripheral surface of the interior thereof substantially l adjacent the casingY portion forming the partition, said i rotor having aV plurality of radially arranged slots spaced therearountl and extending to the periphery thereof, spaced plate means inside the rotor with the inner sur- -faces of said plates in alignment with the slots in the rotor,fblades slidably mounted in each of the slots in the vrotor between the plates, elongated slots in the plates substantially parallel with the shaft and spaced therefrom, L-shaped slots in the blade extending from the inner ends thereof and terminating in portions alignable with the slots in the plates when the blades are in retracted position, abutment means extending through the slots V.in the plates and blades, piston means in the rotor fradjacent each of the plates and operatively connected with the abutment means, cylinders xed in the rotor and slidably receiving the piston means, pump means operativelyconnected with the shaft whereby rotation of j the `shaft drives said pump means, said pump having an inlet and discharge, a source of liquid supply connected with theinlet of theV pump, tlow control means com- 351municating with the discharge of the pump, said ilow 'jcontrol'means having communication with the cylinders in the rotor' and the interior of the rotor and operable to selectively apply liquid pressure from the pump to the Npistons for moving same and the abutment means thereon 40V'into and out of blade-retaining position, and pressure l regulated by-pass means .providing communication bef tween the iiuid chambers to limit the pressure accumu- 1 lated therein.

;r y References Cited Vin theriile of this patent 7, UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,008,201 Aschamele-,r Nev. 7, 1911 t, l1,501,444 English et ai. July 1s,v 1924 1,614,119 Giovannini Jan. 11, 1927 g 2,358,825 Pribuia Sept. 26, 1944 Chambers June 22, 1954 Lf I,2,681,713 

